Meet Caleb
Gateway + PGD Apprentice
Louis Devine

From EarnLearn's Gateway programme to a full apprenticeship

Trade Plumbing, Gasfitting & Drainlaying
Employer Harbour City Plumbing
Location Wellington
Apprentice Story

Meet Caleb

For Caleb, the decision to join a trade came early. He wanted a career that would get him out from behind a desk and into hands-on work. When he discovered the Schools Gateway Programme, he saw a chance to try something new and landed a placement with a plumbing company. That first taste of the trade turned into a passion, and four years later, he’s thriving in an apprenticeship he loves.

Caleb now works for Harbour City Plumbing, building his skills across plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying. With his qualification nearly complete, he’s looking forward to joining the ranks of fully qualified tradespeople later this year.

“One of the pros of the apprenticeship is that when I’m qualified, I’ll have the freedom of the money I’ve earned, and I won’t have a giant student loan like I would if I’d gone to uni and I’ll have job stability.”

What Caleb enjoys most is the balance between learning and earning. Weekly payments for his training make it affordable, and the work itself gives him the chance to keep building his skills on-site.

“You earn while you learn, and you come out with life skills and a qualification that can take you anywhere,” he says.

He admits the journey hasn’t always been easy, but the rewards have been worth it. Each day brings fresh challenges, new skills, and the satisfaction of seeing his work take shape.